Front suspension control arm failure
This investigation led to a safety recall.
- Manufacturer
- General Motors, LLC
- Component
- SUSPENSION, SUSPENSION:FRONT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
- Opened
- Apr 7, 2011
- Closed
- Sep 23, 2011
- Model years
- 2002–2008
- Type
- Preliminary Evaluation
Summary
On September 6, 2011, Fuji Heavy Industries USA, Inc, on behalf of Subaru of America, Inc notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) it would be conducting a safety recall of certain model year (MY) 2002 through 2007 Subaru Impreza, MY 2003 through 2008 Subaru Forester, and MY 2005 through 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold or currently registered in one the salt belt states including the District of Columbia (DC). For the purpose of this investigation, salt belt states include Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and DC.ODI's analysis of consumer complaint data identified 11 reports alleging failure of either the right or left lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. All of these complaints were associated with vehicles currently registered or originally sold in a salt belt state. Through a similar analysis of complaint and warranty data submitted to ODI by Subaru, ODI identified 18 consumer complaints and 6 warranty claims associated with failure of the left or right front lower control arm due to excessive corrosion. All of these consumer complaints associated with vehicles either currently registered of originally sold in a salt belt state.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.
Vehicles under investigation (14)
- SAAB 9-2X2005
- SAAB 9-2X2006
- SUBARU FORESTER2003
- SUBARU FORESTER2004
- SUBARU FORESTER2005
- SUBARU FORESTER2006
- SUBARU FORESTER2007
- SUBARU FORESTER2008
- SUBARU IMPREZA2002
- SUBARU IMPREZA2003
- SUBARU IMPREZA2004
- SUBARU IMPREZA2005
- SUBARU IMPREZA2006
- SUBARU IMPREZA2007
Source: NHTSA investigation PE11011. Investigations are NHTSA's review of a potential safety issue and may or may not result in a recall.